ElI5 How do hybrid cars work? Can these cars run on gas and electric independently Like basically have 1 gas engine and 1 electric engine? Or do they work together to get better performance?

Question

ElI5 How do hybrid cars work? Can these cars run on gas and electric independently Like basically have 1 gas engine and 1 electric engine? Or do they work together to get better performance?

In: Technology

Answer 1

There’s different applications of the hybrid concept. Regenerate breaking, dual power, and automatic shutoff/on.

Regenerate braking recharges the battery when the brakes are applied, this means the battery doesn’t have to be charged by engine power like in conventional cars.

Dual power is what you suggested, an electric motor can be used to aid the engine in accelerating, or the electric motor can provide all the power to the car at low-speed conditions and is aided by the engine at higher speeds.

Automatic shutoff/on turns the engine off/on during lulls in vehicle activity to conserve fuel; relying fully on electric power to operate the car (think your car turning off at red lights and turning back on the second you hit the gas).

Different combinations or all of these technologies in a car are referred to as “hybrid”.